Professor Briscoe
Oral Communications
22 April 2024
General Purpose: to persuade.
Specific Purpose: To persuade the audience that conflict, disagreement, and arguing strengthen connection and closeness in relationships rather than creating division.
Central Idea: Arguing or expressing opposite points of view can lead to deeper understanding and acceptance between people, fostering individual open mindedness, and growing or changing perspectives.
Introduction:
In Jeffery Parcher’s article The Value of Debate, he points out that, “The creation of an argument is one of the most complex cognitive acts that a person can engage in.” In his article, “The Value of Debate” is
Arguing requires an individual to demonstrate a mastery …show more content…
Body:..
Arguing in a productive way leads to a deeper understanding of our differences.
Transition: But how does one engage in this kind of dialogue in a productive manner?
In an article on the University of Mississippi’s counseling center page, the author discusses the importance of not avoiding conflict but embracing it in a healthy way. There are three primary “conflict styles” a person uses to deal with a dispute.
The Mad Bomber expresses anger openly but with minimal control over their own emotions and rationality.
The Smolderer harbors resentment by holding disagreements inside, but only expressing them passively rather than openly.
The Fair Fighter expresses specific concerns while avoiding accusation, generalization, and attacking areas of personal sensitivity.
By listening in a calm manner, even if we do not necessarily agree, we create a safe space for each person to be vulnerable and honest, which are the key ingredients in genuine connection. We cannot fully appreciate someone until we have tried to love each other, even the ones we do not